Static card reader



Oct. 1, 1963 L. R. LYON STATIC CARD READER Filed Jan. 27, 1960 INVENTOR.477714 )5? ya? \Nwx United States Patent 3,105,895 STATIC CARD READERLyman R. Lyon, 3157 Evergreen, Royal Oak, Mich. Filed Jan. 27, 1960,Ser. No. 4,946 17 Claims. (Cl. 235-6111) This invention relatesgenerally to a static business ma chine card reader, and moreparticularly to a novel contact system for a business machine cardreader.

One form of business machine card that has found Wide acceptance in bothcommerce and industry is a card three and one-fourth inches wide andseven and three-eighth inches long capable of receiving nine hundred andsixty punched holes thereon in twelve rows of eighty holes. The rows arespaced one-fourth of an inch apart and are approximately seven incheslong. Such a business machine card is capable of storing anyintelligence definable by nine hundred and sixty charaeterisitcs.

Placement of this number of holes on such a relatively small businessmachine card complicates the problem of translating the intelligencecontained thereon into a usable characteristic such as, for example, ananalog characteristic. To accomplish reading of the card in the staticcondition a pair of contacts must be provided for each hole and at leastone contact of each pair must be resilient with respect to itscomplementary contact. The pairs of contacts must be maintained in exactalignment with respect to each other and with respect to a datum pointon the business machine card being read.

The problem presented, to which static card readers heretofore known andused do not present an adequate solution, is the problem of mountingclosely spaced pairs of contacts so that one contact of each pair isresilient with respect to its complementary contact.

The present invention is directed to a novel contact system for a staticcard reader wherein nine hundred and sixty pairs of contacts aremaintained in accurate alignment with respect to one another and whereinone contact of each pair is both movable and resilient with respect to acomplementary aligned fixed contact. Such a novel contact systemfacilitates the accurate translation of intelligence on the businessmachine card into usable electrical charactenistics.

Accordingly, the broad object of the present invention is an improvedstatic card reader.

Another object is an improved contact system for a static card reader.

Another object is a contact system having a plurality of relativelyclosely spaced, positively aligned pairs of contacts.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following specification, wherein reference is made tothe drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a card reader in accordance withan exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2, enlargedifor clarity; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 44of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings, a card reader in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention comprises an upper movable contactsupport member 12, preferably of conductive material, for examplecopper, mounted for movement in translation vertically, as seen in thedrawings, with respect to a lower fixed contact support member 14 ofinsulating material, for example Bakelite. A plurality of positioningpins 16 extend upwardly from the fixed contact support member 14,preferably at the corners thereof, for the alignment and guidance of themovable contact support member 12 for movement in translation withrespect to the lower contact support member 14. Suitable sleeve bearings18 may be provided in the upper support member 12 for the acceptance ofthe alignment pins 16, if desired.

The movable contact support member 12 is provided with twelvelongitudinally extending parallel grooves 20 in a bottom surface 22thereorf for the support of a like number of contact retainer rods 24.The grooves 22 and therefore the retainer rods 24 are spaced one-fourthof an inch apart.

The rods are secured in the grooves 2t) of the upper contact supportmember 12 as by pairs of machine screws 26 and 28 that extend throughsuitable holes in the opposite end portions of each of the retainer rods24 and into suitably threaded bores in the movable contact supportmember 12.

Each of the contact support rods 24 has a continuous helical groove 30therein of generally V-shaped configuration for the acceptance andretention of a continuous helically wound contact member 32. The contactmember 32 is preferably made from relatively fine Wire, for example 30gauge palladium wire, that has been cold drawn to a high degree ofspringiness. The contact member 32 comprises a plurality of convolutions34 that are held within an associated groove 30 on the retainer rod 24:by contact of the rod 24 with the support member 12.

Each groove 20 in the contact support member 12 has angularly relatedside walls spaced apart that are of sufficient depth, with respect tothe diameter of the rods 24, to tangentially engage the rods 24 atpoints approximately 90 apart. As best seen in FIG. 3, each rod 24 andeach convolution 34 of the helically wound contact member 32 engages thecontact support member 12 at two points 36 and 38 spaced approximately90 apart. This engagement restricts the contact member 32 from movementaxially or transversely with respect to the contact support member 12 orretainer rod 24. It is to be noted that the spacing of the respectiveconvolutions 34 of the contact member 32 is defined by the lead of thegroove 30 in the contact retainer rods 24 and therefore is preciselymaintained.

Each convolution 34 of the helically wound contact member 32 has acontact surface 4t) on the lower peripheral surface thereof. Because therespective convolutions 34 of each cont-act member 32 are maintained inprecise longitudinal alignment by their associated retainer rod 24, therespective contact surfaces 40 are maintained in positive alignment.Also, because each helical contact member 32 is restrained from movementtransversely of its associated retainer rod 24, the transverse spacingof the contact surfaces 40 is positively maintained. Further, becausethe spacing of the convolutions 34 is maintained by the lead of thegroove 30 in the rods 24, longitudinal spacing of the contact surfaces46) is precisely maintained.

The insulating fixed contact support member 14 is provided with aplurality of fixed contact members 42 having upper contact surfaces 44in complementary aligned relationship with respective ones of the lowerperipheral contact surfaces 40 of the convolutions 34 of the contactmember 32. In a constructed embodiment, the fixed contacts 42 comprise aplurality of relatively rigid electrical conductors, the transverse endfaces thereof defining the fixed contact surfaces 44. The contactmembers 42 extend downwardly through suitable aligned holes 46 in thelower support member 14 for connection to any desired circuitry orindicating mechanism. From: the above description, it should be apparentthat the fixed contact support member 14 has nine hundred and sixtyfixed contact members 42 arranged in twelve rows of eighty, the rowsbeing spaced apart one-fourth of an inch. Precise 3 alignment of therespective pairs of contact surfaces 49 and 4 on the convolutions 34 andcontact members 42, respectively, is maintained by the verticallyextending alignment plus 16.

A conventional business machine card 50 having punched holes 51 thereinis read by the static card reader it) of the present invention byplacing the business machine card 5%) between the contact surfaces 40and 44 in a reading position between suitable card guides 52. The uppermovable contact support member 12 is then moved downwardly intranslation toward the lower fixed contact support member 14 so thateach contact surface 40 of each convolution 3-.- either engages thebusiness machine card St, at locations not having a hole 51 punchedtherein, or extends through a punched hole 51 to engage its associatedaligned fixed contact 44, thereby closing an electrical circuit from asource of electrical energy 54 to the contact 40, through its associatedfixed contact 44 to an indicating device 56 or other suitable circuitry.

Each of the convolutions 34 of the contact members 32 is collapsibleradially to provide the resilience required to accommodate the thicknessof the business machine card 53 and to provide for lost motionengagement between the movable contact surfaces 40 and the fixed contactsurfaces upon further movement of the movable support member 12 towardthe fixed support member 14.

From the aforementioned description, it is obvious that the contactsurfaces 49 on the helically coiled contact members 32 are maintained infixed spacing and alignment with respect to one another and to theiraligned fixed contact surfaces Spacing of the respective convolutions iseffected by the lead of the grooves 30 in the contact etaincr rods 20.Each convolution 34 of each contact member 32 is collapsible radially,thereby providing the resilience necessary to accommodate the thicknessof the business machine card 56 and to efiect proper electricalconnection.

It is to be noted that each rod 24 and convolution 34, in the embodimentillustrated, is supported at two arcuately spaced points 36' and 33 in agroove 20 so as to preclude rotation or rolling thereof with respect tothe contact support member 12. This angularly spaced engagement alsorequires that flexing or collapsing of the convolution 34, upon contactthereof with a business machine card 50 at locations not having apunched hole therein, is limited to that portion of the convolution 34spaced downwardly, as seen in the drawings, from the points ofengagement 36 and 38 thereof with the contact support member 12.

From the aforementioned description, it should be obvious that thecontact system 10 of the present invention provides a relatively simple,positive and inexpensive means for mounting a plurality of closelyspaced pairs of contacts, thereby to facilitate the reading of astandard business machine card having a large number of relativelyclosely spaced punched holes.

While it will be apparent that the embodiments of the invention hereindisclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects of the invention,it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible tomodification, variation and change without departing from the properscope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A contact system comprising an electrical conductor having aplurality of generally aligned convolutions defining a first pluralityof aligned contacts, means for supporting said convolutions insubstantially equally spaced relation, and a second plurality ofelectrical contacts in spaced aligned relationship complementary to saidfirst plurality of contacts, said first plurality of contacts beingengageable with respective ones of said second plurality of contacts.

2. A contact system for a static card reader comprising an electricalconductor having a plurality of generally aligned convolutions defininga first plurality of aligned contacts, means for supporting saidconvolutions in substantially equally spaced relation comprising anelongated member disposed interiorly of said convolutions and extendinglongitudinally thereof, and a second plurality of electrical contacts inspaced aligned relationship complementary to said first plurality ofcontacts, said first plurality of contacts being engageable withrespective ones of said second plurality of contacts.

3. A contact system for a static card reader comprising an electricalconductor having a plurality of generally aligned convolutions defininga first plurality of aligned contacts, means for supporting saidconvolutions in substantially equally spaced relation comprising a rigidmember and means for biasing said convolution toward said rigid member,and a second plurality of electrical contacts in spaced alignedrelationship complementary to said first plurality of contacts, saidfirst plurality of contacts being engageable with respective ones ofsaid second plurality of contacts.

4. A contact system for a static card reader comprising an electricalconductor having a plurality of generally aligned convolutions defininga first plurality of aligned contacts, means for supporting saidconvolutions in substantially equally spaced relation comprising a rigidmember and an elongated rod disposed interiorly of and extendinglongitudinally of said convolutions for biasing said convolutions towardsaid rigid member, and a second plurality of electrical contacts inspaced aligned relationship complementary to said first plurality ofcontacts, said first plurality of contacts being engageable withrespective ones of said second plurality of contacts.

5. A contact system for a static card reader comprising an electricalconductor having a plurality of generally aligned convolutions defininga first plurality of aligned contacts, means for supporting saidconvolutions in substantially equally spaced relation comprising athreaded rod, portions of successive convolutions of said conductorbeing disposed in successive ones of the threads in said rod thereby todefine the axial spacing of said convolutions, and a second plurality ofelectrical contacts in spaced aligned relationship complementary to saidfirst plurality of contacts, said first plurality of contacts beingengageable with respective ones of said second plurality of contacts.

6. A contact system for a static card reader comprising an electricalconductor having a plurality of generally aligned radially collapsibleconvolutions defining a first plurality of aligned contacts, means forsupporting said convolutions in substantially equally spaced relation, asecond plurality of electrical contacts in spaced aligned relationshipcomplementary to said first plurality of contacts, and means for guidingsaid supporting means for movement toward said second plurality ofcontacts to effect engagement between respective ones of said firstplurality of contacts and said second plurality of contacts.

7. A contact system for a static card reader comprising an electricalconductor wound in a plurality of generally circular alignedconvolutions defining a first plurality of aligned contacts on the outerperipheral surfaces thereof, means for supporting said convolutions insubstantially equally spaced and aligned relation, a second plurality ofelectrical contacts in spaced aligned relationship complementary to saidfirst plurality of contacts, and means for accepting an insulatingmember between said first and second contacts, said first plurality ofcontacts being engageable with respective ones of said second pluralityof contacts at locations on said insulating member having an aperturetherein.

8. A contact system for a static card reader comprising an electricalconductor having a plurality of generally aligned radially resilientconvolutions defining a first plurality of aligned contacts, means forsupporting said convolutions in substantially equally spaced axialrelation comprising a member having a plurality of generally equallyspaced grooves therein, portions of successive ones of the convolutionsof said conductor being disposed in successive ones of the grooves insaid member thereby to define the axial spacing of said convolutions,and a second plurality of electrical contacts in spaced alignedrelationship complementary to said first plurality of contacts, saidfirst plurality of contacts being engageable with respective ones ofsaid second plurality of contacts.

9. A contact system for a static card reader comprising an electricalconductor having a plurality of generally aligned convolutions defininga first plurality of aligned contacts, means for supporting saidconvolutions in substantially equally spaced relation comprising athreaded rod, portions of successive convolutions of said conductorbeing disposed in successive ones of the threads in said rod thereby todefine the axial spacing of said convolutions, and an insulating memberhaving a second plurality of electrical contacts in spaced alignedrelationship complementary to said first plurality of contacts andelectrically isolated from one another, said first plurality of contactsbeing engageable with respective ones of said second plurality ofcontacts.

10. A contact system for a static card reader comprising an electricalconductor having a plurality of generally aligned radially resilientconvolutions defining a first plurality of aligned contacts, means forsupporting said convolutions in substantially equally spaced axialrelation comprising a member having a plurality of generally equallyspaced holding means thereon, portions of successive ones of theconvolutions of said conductor being engaged with successive ones of theholding means in said member thereby to define the axial spacing of saidconvolutions, and a second plurality of electrical contacts in spacedaligned relationship complementary to said first plurality of contacts,said first plurality of contacts being engageable with respective onesof said second plurality of contacts.

11. The contact system of claim wherein said sec- 0nd plurality ofcontacts are electrically isolated from one another by an insulatingmember.

12. The contact system of claim 11 having means for guiding said holdingmeans and said insulating member for movement toward one another toeffect engagement of said first and second plurality of contacts.

13. A contact system for a static card reader comprising a plurality ofelectrical conductors each having a plurality of generally alignedconvolutions defining aligned contacts, respectively, means forsupporting said convolutions in substantially equally spaced relation,means for maintaining said supporting means in equally spaced alignedrelationship, portions of successive convolutions of each of saidconductors being engaged with successive ones of the supporting meansthereby to define the axial spacing of said convolutions, and a secondplurality of electrical contacts in spaced aligned relationshipcomplementary to said first plurality of contacts, said first plu- (irality of contacts being engageable with respective ones of said secondplurality of contacts.

14. An electrical contacting device comprising a plurality of externallygrooved rods precisely located in spaced parallelism from each other, aplurality of coiled members each having a plurality of coils, each ofsaid coiled members being associated individually with one of said rods,each of said coiled members being eccentrically externally disposed withrespect to that one of said rods with which it is individual, each ofsaid coils of each of said coiled members being disposed consecutivelyin each of said grooves of that one of said rods With which it isindividual, each of a plurality of contact means spaced in precisepositional relationship with respect to each of said coils of saidcoiled members, said contact means being engageable and in conductivecontact with said coiled members.

15. A contact system for a static card reader comprising a rigid member,an electrical conductor having a plurality of generally alignedconvolutions defining a first plurality of aligned contacts, means forsupporting said convolutions in substantially equally spaced relationcomprising a threaded rod, groove means in said rigid memher forprecluding transverse movement of said supporting means, portions ofsuccessive convolutions of said conductor being disposed in successiveones of the threads in said rod thereby to define the axial spacing ofsaid convolutions, and a second plurality of electrical contacts inspaced aligned relationship complementary to said first plurality ofcontacts, said first plurality of contacts being engageable withrespective ones of said second plurality of contacts.

16. A contact system for a static card reader comprising a movablecontact support member having a plurality of aligned grooves therein ofgenerally V-shaped configuration, a plurality of electrical conductorseach having a plurality of generally aligned convolutions defining aplurality of aligned contacts, means for supporting one of saidconductors in each of said grooves comprising a plurality of threadedrods, portions of successive convolutions of each of said conductorsbeing disposed in successive ones of the threads in the rod associatedtherewith thereby to define the axial spacing of said convolutions, anda second plurality of electrical contacts in spaced aligned relationshipcomplementary to said first plurality of contacts, said first pluralityof contacts being engageable with respective ones of said secondplurality of contacts.

17. The contact system of claim 16 wherein said second' plurality ofcontacts are electrically isolated from one another.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS395,781 Hollerith Jan. 8, 1889 2,484,114 Page et al Oct. 11, 19492,915,243 Lapointe Dec. 1, 1959

3. A CONTACT SYSTEM FOR A STATIC CARD READER COMPRISING AN ELECTRICALCONDUCTOR HAVING A PLURALITY OF GENERALLY ALIGNED CONVOLUTIONS DEFININGA FIRST PLURALITY OF ALIGNED CONTACTS, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAIDCONVOLUTIONS IN SUBSTANTIALLY EQUALLY SPACED RELATION COMPRISING A RIGIDMEMBER AND MEANS FOR BIASING SAID CONVOLUTION TOWARD SAID